Thyroid Test

Test Details: Analyte

Test

Sample required

blood

This test analyses serum levels of thyroid hormones to assess central and peripheral thyroid function, as well as thyroid auto-immunity.

To order this test, please, contact us on info@nutritioncentre.ie

There are three ways in
which there may be insufficient amounts of the thyroid hormone for normal metabolism and health:

#1. Primary hypothyroidism: raised TSH and a low T4 and low T3. This is possibly due to auto-antibody disease (i.e. from toxic stress or iodine deficiency ).

#2. The most common cause of thyroid failure, occurs at the pituitary where there is is insufficient thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) produced from the pituitary and so we tend to see low to normal TSHs, low T4s and variable T3s. This is common in people with CFS [chronic fatigue syndrome] where there is a general suppression of the HPA axis [hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis].

#3. The third type of poor thyroid function is due to poor conversion of T4 to T3. This requires nutrients such as enzymes and co-factors, in particular selenium, zinc and iron. In this condition there are normal or slightly raised levels of TSH, normal levels of T4 but low levels of T3. This requires micronutrients and also T3 to correct.